The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-26

take to render selection that he had
not already made part of himself by
long and faithful study. Perhaps the
sermon demands as much thought and
labor after it is written as it does be-
fore. 1t is well that it be read over en-
tifely many times before the hour for
the pulpit service. Its plan should be
in the preachers mind, and indeed it
should possess and haunt him until the
hour comes for its public delivery. Only
as it is thus absorbed, taken into the
mind so completely that it flows out of
his very finger tips, can it be adequate
ly rendered. 1t is well also to commit
some portions of the sermon, particu-
larly the closing sentences to memory,
so that the preacher can for the time
be entirely free from his manuscript
and speak with all the power of extern
poraneous delivery. In little time
this will become spontaneous, and i'm
part power to the sermon never known
before.
2. The average Universalist preacher
need not be afraid of being in earnest in
his speaking, and using too much force.
He should speak as if he meant what
he said and thought it of supreme i'm
portance. Neither need he be afraid
of making noise. 1t is not necessary
that he ''split the ears of the ground
nngs." That would be even worse and
more 70 he deplored than the opposite
extfe1e. OF course not an are equally
favored by nature. Some ministers are
gifted with voice and presence that
lend dignity and power to even the
most monotonous platitudes but not
one that cannot do something towards
the bettering of a deficient voice and
expression-not one that cannot dis
tribute emphasis, and observe the sim
pie rules of good reading.
8. Having the greatest familiarity
with his sermon and being very much
in earnest so that he is not afraid to
speak with the accents of conviction
and power, the preacher should stand
squarely on his feet and look his hear
ers directly in the eye. His eyes should
not be roaming around on the ceiling
or on the high walls of the church. 1t
is loss of power to the public speaker
to lose the eyes of his hearers for even
moment.
A. And lastly let it be remembered
that the great danger to be encountered
in the use of manuscript in the pulpit
is the tendency to destroy all spontan-
city, and become wholly mechanical.
That tendency should be resisted with
all the energy that the preacher can
command. He should not hesitate,
even with the most eloquent and schol-
arly sermon, to introduce extempore
efforts. Thoughts, great and flaming,
should come into his soul in the progress
of the discourse, and these be thrown
OAA az tAO WhlbO hCdO VI Auopl1dblOus
They will move and stir the audience
as nothing else possibly can. And by
such efforts he will be slowly feeling
his way to that development that will
enable him to become a real and entire
preacher, by throwing away all the res
traints of pulpit writing, and give him
the power to stand before his people,
and with that earnestness that springs
from a great conviction, with the re-
sources of careful and thorough prepara-
tion, speak to them out of his full heart
and mind as 'friend holds fellowship
with friend"
These were the thoughts that were
submitted to the class at that time as
they are now recalled, and they were in
tended to impress on thetheologues the
necessity of purpose in the sermon, and
the conviction that it is important that
the sermon be preached; and then the
further fact of equal Importance that
the sermon should be mastered and got
under perfect control before the hour
comes for public service. If the thought
that is here unfolded, shall be helpful
to some one already in the work, the
writer will be deeply grateful.